Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-11-11


and the stern, daring look about the faco.
After all, her knowledge of his character
was almost nothing She began to grow
alarmed.
Fairfax felt, rather than saw it oil, and
suddenly leaned forward, with the remark:
ave are coming to dangerous part OF
tho road. / will take the reIns, II you
please"
With that he cody took the lines from her
hands, almost ere she knew what he was
about.
She sank back on the scat with scarcely
subdued gasp of alarm. She was now tho
woman-all woman; he the man, and man
not TO be triled with, at that
"Now,n said he, quietly, but firmly, "if
you have finished what you have TO say,
also will say something However, before
/ begin my remarks, l would like to ask
you one question You have just professed
TO hold me in utter contempt How is it,
then, you did not place the matter in the
hands of detectivel How is 1t you deal
with me personality In other words, how
came you here, and what do you want with
metz
AS he asked her this he turned suddenly
and sharply around and looked her full in
the face.
The question was perfectly natural; but
the effect was extraordinary, and had he
not been in the mood that rendered him
proof against surprise, Fairfax would have
cvinced this,
Lydia gasped, shrank back upon her seat
and, under the keen scrutiny OF those
searching eyes, became crimson, then pale,
and in her confusion 1t seemed to her that
Al. INT
hers seemed to read all; that those resist
less eyes pierced to her very souls depths
and caught its Utmost secrets, and seemed
to say: Whatever your answer, know all.
She stammered out breathlessly, in q ter
rified, shame-faced manner:
"If you know all, why do you askln
"Ah," replied he, installing the meaning
Of her answer, but still failing to compre
bend the cause OF her confusion, "yes, d
know alln
She hid her face in hor hands to concea
her feeling of shame. He could have no re
spect for her now; and-horrible thought
supposing he were to make it publict
masking this dlscomposing question Of hi.
Fairfax had been actuated only by desir,
to learn what was publicly known about tn
abduction of tho Princess-if his accom-
plices had been discoveredi if others, be
sides Lydia, knew OF his guilt and where
abouts; or if she only had gained the secret
He had made no accusation ut all agains
her; and was, therefore, taken aback AM
completely mystifled by this behavior. VIVA
did she meant He could not stop to reflect
He was resolved upon this plan.
His future, at any rate, was ruined-so hi
took it for granted. Still he would maxi
the best Of circumstances. He would Sc
cure Lydia as a shield to protect, from Thu
shafts of justice, Dick and his other accom-
plices. He continued:
snow, will tell you all about it. Yol
| know
"Stop" she cried, beseechingly. Sh'
had become desperate. "Stopl Mr.. Fair
fax. Unjust explain myself You say yol
know all You do not am not the box
creature you believe me-"
Fairfax listened with growing astonish
ment. Lydia continued:
VSome time after Natalie's disappear
nnce, singular dream awakened in m,
mind an unpleasant suspicion. / drove i
away, time and again. But, time anC
again, it returned. A brief conferences
with Louvait, tho French detective, only
confirmed my belief that this unwelcomC
visitor was right in demanding entertain
ment. But, on such slight grounds, how
could bring accusation against an indiyid
ual whom supposed not only gentleman
| but man of sinccrity-ono OF the class
| which my experience, as rich woman
with fatterers and sycophants has led me
hitherto to believe either fictitious or de
functl / could not do it; and yet that sus-
picion refused to be put down. There was
but one resort left me-either TO provo it
or disprove it; and that by myself, alone
| OH do not then think it boldness or shame
lessness that led me over the sea in this un
womanly manner"
Fairfax listened in wonder Did she
really mean that she had done this 70 shield
hint Was it possible that, after all, Dick
was right
Turning toward her ngain, he abruptly
asked;
500 you mean to say that you actually
came TO America wishing to prove my inno-
cencel"
~ do" answered she, fearlessly, and
looking unfinchingly into his eyes.
Fairfax, seeing that the girl was very
highly wrought-up and keenly felt the dis
grace and awltwardness OF her position, ro-
solved to comfort her. Besides, he was NOR.
tai and could scarcely repress a secret feel.
ing of exultation over the fact that he, the
man Of humble fortune had, to such an I'M
suspected extent, aroused the interest OF
the greatest catch in England
"You are Mistaken said he, ~ do not
consider you bold or shameless. 1t is /
who am disgraced; / who have ruined my
reputation in the eyes of two lovely women.
And yet am not the abandoned wretch you
must think me, told you the truth at that
fatal ball at the Warehouses; never had
seen the Princess before that evening,
about shutdown. saw her-and If you will
have it-loved her. The whole thing was
an affair of but moment. You think she
has suffered and been unhappy. / do not.
believe she has never been happier since
her brothers. death. never troubled her
until to-day, when she discovered who
was, and, naturally, was indignant at learn
ing my course Of duplicity. She is the love-
lest purest and most angelic being on
earthl"
"Aycl that she Is ~ warmly added Lydia,
without the least tinge of jealousy
"Of COURSE" he went on TO say, ~ have
promised to free her, and think you must
have been sent here by merciful provi-
dence to take her back l shall put her N
your sole charge The steamer by which she
came is still in New York, but will tele-
graph tho captain to stop here for you.
You will not refuse to take charge Of hor,
will you" said he, looking up inqulringly.
~ have failed after rislting literally every
thing. l even borrowed large sum in
order to carry out my plans. If have moth
ing else to work for, l shall at least strive
to repay that. You do not know that 1 am
poor and PROFESSIONALS
~ know it ALL" replied Lydia, quietly.
~ know all about you"
"Hown asked no, in surprise.
She answered simply:
81 have been at your home.n
"Ah, then you are tho lovely Miss earns
fordl"
Lydia blushed.
Fairfax looked at tho girl. She certainly
must be q remarkable woman to have
undertaken such an errand as sho declared
she had come upon. Next to his own Prin-
cess she was, assuredly, the finest woman
no had ever seen.
She felt his scrutinizing gaze, and became
visibly embarrassed. BY no means was
her regard for this man yet gone.
81 ask of you one more favor" he con-
tinued. II shall not sec the Princess again
at least, TO speak with her. VIII you tell
her-that If her suspicious arc aroused as
% INV con fadnrafnu In tho daad I ronuaat